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Gay Marriage Could Affect Minnesota Businesses

Posted at: 05/09/2013 8:08 PM
By: Steph Crock

(ABC 6 News) -- If gay marriage becomes legalized in the state, it could affect Minnesota's budget. Revenue could come from things like marriage license fees, but could impact local businesses as well.

Legalizing gay marriage would mean a surge in weddings in the state, at least in the short term. We spoke with owners at a bridal shop and a bakery who say, they are currently loosing wedding business to states where it's legal and can't wait to get it back.

As we prepare for summer, stores likes Mestads are preparing for another season, wedding season. "We have so many different styles, over 800 different wedding gowns in the store, so a little something for everybody,” said owner of Mestads, Cathy Mestad. She says part of their job is to get to know the couple, and what fits their style. "We ask them their partner’s name. We are trying very hard not use the words ‘bride and groom’ anymore," said Mestad.

They are currently attending to some gay couples too. The same goes for Duabe's Bakery. There's a lot of people who want to get married and can’t be recognized here in Minnesota, but we still do cakes for them,” said owner of Daube's Bakery Cynthia Daube.

However, none of those couples are getting married here. "We have a lot of couples who come who are going to have their ceremony in Iowa," said Mestad.

"Many times they'll take these cakes to Iowa," said Daube.

Though if it were legal here, both stores agree it would mean more business. "We have to have somebody who's getting married to come into the store and obviously there's going to be more potential for marrying couples," said Mestad.

"If the state of Minnesota had a law that recognized gay and lesbian marriages, the wedding industry would be much bigger here," said Daube.

An industry that local companies are hoping to get a bigger slice of, if gay marriage becomes a reality.